Brain & Nervous System Parkinson's Disease Symptoms Early Signs and Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease By Marian Anne Eure linkedin Marian Eure, RN, is a registered nurse with more than 25 years of experience in adult healthcare, health promotion, and health education. Learn about our editorial process Marian Anne Eure Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Diana Apetauerova, MD on November 13, 2019 linkedin Diana Apetauerova, MD, is board-certified in neurology with a subspecialty in movement disorders. She is an associate clinical professor of neurology at Tufts University. Learn about our Medical Review Board Diana Apetauerova, MD Updated on November 22, 2019 Print Parkinson's Disease is generally considered a disease of late-middle age with the average age of onset at around 60 years. There are cases of "early-onset" Parkinson's disease, but only a small percentage of people under the age of 50, about 5- to 10-percent, will develop this health condition earlier. The cause of the disease is unknown. While some evidence points to genetics, most patients have no known gene abnormality. Certain studies indicate environmental factors may trigger the illness in those with a genetic susceptibility. These factors include exposure to pesticides and herbicides, especially for those living in a rural area, drinking water from a private well, or working on a farm or as a welder. But even these studies aren't conclusive. Hill Street Studios / Getty Images Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease You can attribute the symptoms of Parkinson's to a deficiency of a chemical in your brain called dopamine. The four classic motor symptoms of Parkinson's include: Shaking and tremorsMoving slowly, known as bradykinesiaUnusually rigid or stiff muscles in your face, neck, legs, or other musclesDifficulty maintaining your balance Shaking and tremors while you are resting is typically the first sign of Parkinson's disease, but about one-third of patients won't experience those symptoms. These symptoms tend to be worsened by emotional and physical stress. Sleep or moving can help reduce these issues. Parkinson's disease is both chronic and progressive with symptoms generally getting worse as time goes on. As it progresses, other disabilities can develop, including: Difficulty talking and swallowingA sudden inability to move, called "freezing"Decreased dexterity and coordination making it hard to complete daily activities, such as dressing yourself Some sufferers also have symptoms that don't affect their motor skills, including: Mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and memory lossLoss of smellTrouble sleeping, including thrashing and other sudden movementsChange in blood pressure Some Parkinson's Treatment Options Parkinson's disease has no cure, but there are treatment options to control your symptoms and improve your quality of life which include: Medication. Levodopa (sinemet) and other medications, which are trying to boost dopamine (the low chemical in your brain). There are number of those medications which can be used alone or in combination. Although many of those medications can help you significantly control your motor symptoms (slowness, tremor, stiffness), you might also experience side effects and diminished efficacy over time. Physical, occupational, and speech therapy are usually part of your treatment plan and can improve your balance, mobility, ability to do daily tasks, and speech.Deep brain stimulation is a surgery performed by a neurosurgeon, and in indicated patients can help with motor symptoms, though non-motor symptoms, such as falls, constipation, low blood pressure and incontinence do not improve.Tai Chi is a Chinese martial art that may help sufferers regain some of their balance and strength, as well as decrease the risk of falling. Dance, such as a Zumba, may also help, as can using a stationary bicycle and rock steady boxing. Many treatment options for Parkinson's are most effective when used in conjunction with others such as taking medication and doing physical therapy. Possible Risk Reduction Factors While age, genetics, and being a man make it more likely you'll develop Parkinson's disease, some factors make it less likely. It is generally believed that Asian-Americans and African-Americans seem to have a lower risk of developing Parkinson's as compared to Caucasians. Drinking coffee may lower risk, as a 30-year study of Japanese-American men found the greater amount of coffee they drank, the lower their risk of Parkinson's disease became. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center: Parkinson's Disease. University of Maryland Medical Center: Parkinson's Disease (2012).